Plural needle pickup apparatus



Dec. 18, 1951 J. E. VlSTAlN, JR

PLURAL NEEDLE PICKUP APPARATUS Filed Dec. 25, 1948 Patented Dec. 18, 1951 PLURALNEDLE PICKUP APPARATUS James E. Vistain, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor t Admiral Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofA Delaware Application December 23, 1948, serial No. 67,040

This vinvention relates to improvements in phonograph pickup apparatus' including a transducer adapted to engage a plurality of classes of records, the transducer being adapted to be carried by a movable pickup member.

More specifically, the' invention comprises a transducery adapted to be associated rotatably with a movable pickup arm, the transducer including a plurality of needles in extension therefrom and each of the needles severally adapted to be turned into' a position wherein they are adapted to engage severally and operably a different class of records as the transducer is rotated with respect to the pickup arm. Additionally, the invention comprehends means accessible from the exterior of the arm by which the transducer is adapted to be rotated to change needles, and indicator means from which can be determined, from above the levels of` the' pickup arm, which of the needles is in readiness for engagement with a record.

The matter of playing phonograph records differing considerably in the size and pitch oct their sound grooves, and the speed at which they are adapted to be rotated is a problem which has previously been solved by providing record players with a pluralityof pickup arms, one of which is provided with a needle adapted particularly for engagement with one class of records, e. g., microgroove or long playing records while the other pickup arm is `provided with a needle adapted for engagement with short playing or conventional records. This involved a. cumbersome construction with an apparently unnecessarily high cost `of manufacture.

By my invention, I am able to use one pickup arm to perform the operations formerlyper-` This, yof course, in-

formed by two such arms. volves use of a transducer which, although slightly more expensive than either of the transducers employed on a two-pickup arm record player, enables a manufacturer, by its use to cut down on other costs incidental to the use of two pickup arms, thereby providing a record player which is available tothe consumer at a price which is lower than the price of a two-pickup arm machine, and which, because of its addedv 1 is a top plan view of a pickup arm in Claimsf (Cl. 274-24) 2 conjunction with which the invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the view being drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the pickup arm being broken away to reveal other parts;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown one embodiment of the invention, the reference character 6 is used to denote a pickup arm for a record player. The arm 6 may be of some plastic material such as Bakelite. and is of inverted U-shape in vertical section thus involving a top wall 'I from the edges of which side walls 6 extend downwardly. The arm is adapted to swing laterally about an axis centrally of a vertical support indicated, in Fig. 1, by the character 9.

To the swingable end lof the pickup arm Ii is coupled a novel and versatile transducer I0. It is cylindrical in general 'formation and includes a rotary, composite body or barrel I I formed from semi-cylindrical members I2 of some electrically non-conductive material such asBakelite rigidly coupled to each other by rivets I3 and I4. A journal portion I6, of the barrel II is of reduced diameter, below the surface of which the extremities of the rivet I4 are countersunk so thatv said journal portion is adapted to be received within a bearing notch I8 in a partition wall I9 extending transversely of the pickup arm between its side walls 8. The barrel II also includes a second journal portion 2| which is adapted to be received in another bearing notch 22 in an end wall 23 of the pickup arm E. In order to maintain rotatable relationship between the barrel II and the pickup arm, said barrel is provided with an annular groove 2li intermediate the journal portions IB and 2l. On either side of the groove 24 the arm 6 includes pads 2B, to each of which the respective ends 29 of a metal strap 2l are anchored by vscrews 2B.r Between the ends 29 which form flat foot portions, the strap includes a portion 3l which is arcuate of the axis of barrel II so that it is adopted tOgripthe bottom of groove 24 frictionally, thereby eliminating the possibility of lateral play between the barrel and the arme. The strap 21 maybe slightly resilient so as to exert sufficient frictional ref-Q sistance to rotation of the. barrel that the same; is retained in whatever position to which it may' one edge of the spring, and ears 3.3, extending,

toward each other from both of the pickup arm walls 8, at the other edge of lthe; spring 32; Forv the sake of utilizing the elasticity-ofthe. spring 32, throughout its entire length, the two ends of said spring are bent upwardly as at.34. The ex.--v tremities of the spring, thereby, are adapted to be pressed against pads 35 on either side of Yarm 6 between wall I9 and the ears 33 by the barrel H5., For this operation' the barrel H issprovidedv with a pair of retention surfaces which are- 11a-t.;

surfaces*diametricallyv opposed on the barrel, 34 and 35; either of which is adapted to pressagainst a central region of the spring thereby'deflecting it' slightly. It will therefore be understood -that the spring 32' is adapted to restrain' the transducer yieldably againstrotationl from .a first predeterminedposition provided by abutment of the flat surface 34 with the spring, or from a-second predetermined position provided byabutment of the-otherflatsurfaceB with said spring.

Means'to turn the transducer manually'from the first to the second predetermined position or from the second back tothe rst, in eitherl case additionally deecting the` spring between said'positions, is' provided by' a handle 3-1' externally of wall 23` of the pick-up arm-6; Althoughthe handle S'L` may be. a separate-V part rigidly coupledv to the transducer, it preferably isa composite unit, the sections of which-are integral with the members I2.

In order that-undulations in'thesoundgroove of two' diierent classes of records -may' be conveyed to electrically responsive elements; not shown; within the transducer, twoneedles 38-l and 39'are1employed: Although the needles are preferably Ifixed to the respective ends of a single shaft' 4|? extending throughv the barrelv Il, and therefore'V both adapted toconvey vibratory mo tion tothe same electrically responsive element;- I` also contemplate separate elements for each ofthe needles,- the needles'then being carriedeby separate shafts-. In anycase, there is a denite positional relationship between-the pcsitionof` each-oftheneedles and one of the ilat surfaces? 34fand- 36. This isl such that, whenthe trans-Y ducer lil-is in either of its predeterminedeposttions, one of theneedles isl in exten-sion downwardly for engagementy with aparticularclassl of records.

In orderV that the question of which needle is in readiness fork record playing maybel deter.- mined lfrom apoint aboveV thelevel of thepickup arm 6, some suitable indicator meanssis employed.

Of numerous indicating apparatuses which. might be employed 'with this end in view, Iprefer to so construct the handle 31 that opposed surfaces 42 and 43-are provided thereon, .which are each'inv substantially horizontal position when the., transducer. is in either of its. predetermined positions4 and-hence. when one4 of the needlesis in down.- wardextension. On the surface 42 Ihaye,Y there.-

fore, yprovided some identifying, indicia. such. as.. thenumeral 33. whichis visiblewhen theneedlel 4 38 is in downward extension, the needle 38 bein adapted to engage the sound groove of a slow playing or microgroove record. The opposite side 43 is provided with some different indicia such as the numeral 78 which is visible, above the level of the pickup arm when the needle 39 is downward, the needle 39 being adapted to engage fast'playing or conventional records.

Stop means is provided, as a safety measure, to restrict rotation of the transducer. This is essential because electrical conductor leads 44, anchored. to immovable terminals not shown, are adaptedto convey a current, modulated by the transducer, fron-rV terminal prongs 46 on the internal end of` said transducer. Although any suitable mechanism to restrict rotation of the transducerV maybeemployed, I prefer to use a stop pin 41 in extension through the transducer,

Y adjacent the end wall 23` of the pickup arm. The

pin 41 is in extension from one side only of the transducer and adapted to be swung through a half turn only due tothe presence of pads 48' on the internal side` of the pickuparm endl wall 23.

The needles 38' and 39 are protected against; undue shock by shield means. Such means is desirable'due to the comparative 'fragility' of the" needles which might otherwise be bentbeyondl their limit ofelasticity byfsudden impact with af record and thereby rendered useless or their ef'fciency materially impaired. Therefore, that por tion of the barrel Il extended through by theV rivets l3 isv provided with opposed nat surfaces orl ats 49 in substantially parallel relationship? to the `shaft 4I. Shield 'members- 5l ar-e'clampedf against the ats 49 by the rivets' I3. The shield'. members 5| may take the form of metal plates'- shorter than the distance between the recordi engageable ends of the two needles. During playing of records, the free endsf ofthe shield-members are spaced slightly from. the-surfaces of th'el records. Should', however',v a group of records tumble from a magazine, for example, on to the' pickup arm, their weight would'merely deflectI the downwardly extending needle until the shields rested on the turntable or a record thereon and no damage to the needle would follow.

Having thus described by invention in an embodiment thereof, I am aware that numerous and' extensive departures' may be made therefronrA without departing from the spirit or sc ope ofy my invention'. l

I claim:

1. Pickup apparatus of the class which includes" a mobile carrier member toY which is coupleda transducer carrying. a plurality of needles .each of rwhich is adaptedto engage a separate class of' .records by alternate extension of one of' the needles, ,the extension ofthe needles being. canried out byrotating the transducer, said trans.-r ducer being adapted to be adjustable by bearing' meansv in connection with said transducer and.,l said pickup arm, means in connection withY the. transducer, by, which said. transducer is adapted to beY rotated, and clamp means at leastr partiallyv surrounding said transducer to hold itin rota- 'tional relationship to said carrier member. saidL clamp means pressing said transducer into frictional engagement with said' carrier member. thereby providing for movably retaining'. the' transducer in' whatever angular'position' it is stationed. y

2'. Phonograph" apparatus of the class which includes a pickup arm to which is coupled: a

transducer carrying a plurality of needles each of which is adapted to engage a separate class of records by alternate extension of one of the needles, the extension of the needles being carried out by angular movement of the transducer, said transducer being adapted to be adjustable angularly by bearings in connection With said transducer and said pickup arm, a handle in connection with the transducer, said handle being extended outwardly from said arm for rotation of said transducer, a clamp member anchored to said arm and engaging the transducer around at least a part of its periphery to hold said transducer in rotatable relationship with said arm, said clamp member pressing said transducer into frictional engagement with said arm whereby said transducer will be retained in any adjusted angular position.

3. Phonograph apparatus of the class which includes a swingable pickup arm in connection with which a transducer carrying a pair of needles is associated, one of the needles being adapted to engage one class and the other of the needles adapted to engage another class of records by alternate extension of one of said needles, the extension of the needles being carried out by means including spaced apart bearing surfaces circumferential of said transducer, a pair of spaced apart bearing notches on said arm, a clamping member in holding engagement with the lower surface of one of said bearing surfaces thereby holding the upper surfaces of the remaining bearing surfaces in engagement with said bearing notches, and a handle to rotate the transducer so that the needles are adapted to be extended severally for engagement with records of either class.

4. Phonograph apparatus of the class which includes a pickup arm with which a transducer is in association, said transducer adapted to be rotated into two predetermined positions and about an axis in fixed and substantially longitudinal relationship to the pickup arm to play two classes of records by means of a needle in extension from said transducer and adapted to engage a microgroove record when said transducer is in one of its predetermined positions, a second needle also in extension from said transducer and adapted to engage a coarse srooved record when said transducer is in the other of said predetermined positions, said needles being spaced angularly from each other peripherally of the transducer, a pair of nat surfaces on the periphery lof said transducer, a spring anchored to the pickup arm and in spring pressed engagement with alternate ones of said flat surfaces whereby said transducer is releasably held in its alternate positions, and a handle on the transducer by which said transducer may be rotated for adjustment against the resistance of said spring.

5. A phonograph pickup apparatus comprising a pickup arm adapted to be mounted pivotally at one end, a head at the other end of said arm, said head being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces, a transducer having a plurality of spaced journal surfaces, means to hold said transducer in said head with said journal surfaces in engagement with said bearing surfaces, said transducer also being formed with a plurality of fiat surfaces thereon, spring means xed to said head in pressed engagement with at least one of said at surfaces whereby said transducer is held releasably in any one oi a plurality of positions, and a plurality of pickup needles held by said transducer, each of said needles being thereby adapted toengage a record at the corresponding position of said transducer.

JAMES E. VISTAIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED rThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name l Date 904,853 Dyer et al. Nov. 24, 1908 905,033 Weber l Nov. 24, 1908 1,822,932 Loughridge Sept. 15, 1931 1,992,893 Thomas Feb. 26, 1935 2,087,135 Wielage July 13, 1937 2,280,763 Hasbrouck Apr. 21, 1942 2,479,894 Andrews Aug. 23, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 78,729 Switzerland Sept. 2, 1918 

